PSG vs Stade Brestois 29: Preview and Prediction

PSG will be keen to strengthen their hold at the top of Ligue 1 when they take on Stade Brestois 29 on Sunday night

Defending champions PSG are set to welcome Stade Brestois 29 to the Parc des Princes as they aim to secure yet another Ligue 1 championship this season.

Luis Enrique’s side have a healthy eight point lead over second placed Rennes and are primed to secure the title. They have an excellent record against Brest and have not lost to them since 1985. PSG have won 19 games and drawn seven since, in a run encompassing 26 matches across all competitions.

While the home side are the favourites, Brest will go into the game full of confidence. This is thanks to their excellent start post the November break. Eric Roy’s side haver picked up 19 points in the seven games since and have amassed more than any other side in the French top flight.

More so, Brest have also scored more goals while conceding the least of any side in Ligue 1 during this period. They cannot ask for a better opportunity to end the hoodoo against PSG and protect their reputation in front of Luis Enrique’s side.

The visitors are the surprise package of the season and could move to within eight points of PSG should they tun stun the Parc des Princes on Sunday. The defence that has kept four straight league shutouts in a row will face no harder task than that of the PSG frontline on the domestic front.

The Hard Tackle takes a closer look at the encounter ahead of the latest meeting between the two sides.

Team News & Tactics

Paris Saint-Germain

The French champions have several players unavailable thanks to different reasons. Achraf Hakimi and Kan-in Lee are at the African Cup of Nations and Asia Cup respectively, ruling them out of the game this Sunday.

The defence in particular has taken a hit with Milan Skriniar, and Presnel Kimpembe unavailable due to injuries. Nuno Mendes is a doubt for the game and could struggle to feature. To add to Enrique’s concerns, Fabian Ruiz, Sergio Rico and Arnau Tenas are also unavailable for selection.

Having just negotiated a Coupe de France fixture, the PSG boss is likely to rotate his squad for the game on Sunday. One constant will be the 4-3-3 formation that is a trademark of the former AS Roma manager.

Gianluigi Donnarumma should start in goal behind the back four of Warren Zaire-Emery, Marquinhos, Danilo Pereira and Lucas Hernandez. Manuel Ugarte should return to the midfield with Carlos Soler and Vitinha providing support in the middle of the park.

Ousmane Dembele and Barclay Barcola should provide the width with star striker Kylian Mbappe leading the line.

Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Donnarumma; Zaire-Emery, Marquinhos, Danilo Pereira, Hernandez; Carlos Soler, Ugarte, Vitinha; Dembele, Mbappe, Barcola

Stade Brestois 29

Eric Roy’s side are currently third in the Ligue 1 this season and will be reasonably confident of securing a positive result on the night. It should take them within touching distance of the top flight summit but also  end their 39-year-old winless streak against PSG.

However, they will need to do so sans Kamory Doumbia who is currently at the AFCON. More so, Jordan Amavi is a doubt for the game. Roy is likely to rotate his side following their Coupe de France clash and several familiar faces could return to the starting lineup.

They are expected to line up in a 4-3-3 formation with Marco Bizot in goal. He has been a rock at the back for Brest, with an impressive a save rate of 80.5% so far this campaign.

He should be protected by a back four of Kenny Lala, Brendan Chardonnet, Lilian Brassier and Bradley Locko. Hugo Magnetti should occupy the base of the visitors’ midfield with Mahdi Camara and Pierre Lees-Melou providing support in the middle of the park.

Romain Del Castillo and Mathias Pereira Lage will provide the width upfront with Steve Mounie providing the thrust through the centre.

Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Bizot; Lala, Chardonnet, Brassier, Locko; Lees-Melou, Magnetti, Camara; Del Castillo, Mounie, Pereira Lage

Key Stats

• Under QSI, Brest are the side that PSG have played the most with a hundred percent win rate (14).
• PSG are unbeaten in their last 26 games against Brest. They only have a longer run that is active at this moment is against Angers.
• PSG have failed to score at least two goals only once in their last 11 Ligue 1 games.
• Brest have 34 games after 18 games this season, their best start at this point in the three point for a win era.
• Since the November break, Brest have won the most points (19), scored the most goals (16) and conceded the least (2) of any Ligue 1 side.

Player to Watch

Kylian Mbappe

The French international is PSG’s main goal getter and will once again be the defending champions’ most potent attacker on the night. Mbappe’s pace and ability to glide into space makes him a difficult player to keep quiet.

Having kept four straight shutouts in the league, the Brest defence will now test themselves against France’s best striker on the night. This duel is likely to decide how the game turns out on the night.

Prediction

PSG 2-1 Stade Brestois 29

Brest have reasons to be confident but are unlikely to go head to head against PSG given the disparity in player quality. Enrique’s side do not just have home advantage but also better strength in depth. The game is unlikely to be one sided but PSG’s superior squad should see them secure all three points on the night.